Acetylene-gas generator



` (No Model.) I y J. C. DUPE-E.

AGBTYLBNE GAS GENERATOR.

vPf-Mzented Oct. 19,1897

llNITnn STATES PATENT EEICE..

JOIIN c. DUPEE, OE cI-IIOAGO, ILLINOIS, A ssIeNOR OE ONEIIALE To RIPLEY J. WHITE, OE sAME PLAOE.

AoETYLl-:N E -fcAs o EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersuPatent No. 592,084, dated October 19, 1897. Application filed December 2l, 1896. Serial No. 616,392. (No model.)

To CLU whom t may concern,.- j

Be it known that I, JOHN C. DUPEE, vot' Chicago,in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AcetyleneGas Generators and I do hereby declare that thefollowingis a f ull, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forma part of 'this specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for generating from calcium lcarbid the gas known as acetylene gas. Y

The present invention relates to apparatus of this character of that class illustrated in a prior application for patent tiled by me August 29, 1896, Serial No. 604,248, and wherein the calcium carbid is held in a generating-v chamber provided with a water-inlet opening at its bottom and a source of water-supply is provided from which water is fed to said opening through a regulating-valve whichcontrols the flow of water therethrough.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims. -I

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1V is a viewY in central vertical section of a gasgenerator embodying my invention as applied to a bicycle-lamp. Fig. 2 is asection of the carbid-receptacle and water-tank separate from other parts, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the calcium-carbid receptacle or generating-chamber. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of an inner lining placed within the generatinglchamber to contain the calcium carbid. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l.

As shown in the said drawings, A is the gasgenerating chamber which is'intended to contain the calcium carbid, the same being made preferably of cylindric form.

B l's a water receptacle or tank which is attached to the chamber A and,as herein shown, extends'around the sides and bottom of said chamber.

The bottom of the said chamber' means, the thickness of said disk bringing its top surface above thelevel of the bottom wall lof the chamber.

The disk a2 is used to form a' seat for the valve-plug, but the special arrangement of these details illustrated is not essential and a suitable seat for the valve may be otherwise provided. The top of the chamber A is closed by means of a cover A', .which is secured thereto in the instance shown by means of a marginal flange o4 on the cover which has screw-threaded engagement with a ring a3, attached to the upper margin of the chamber. Y

To the upper part of the side wall of the chamberAis secured a discharge pipe or tube C, which extends downwardly through the walter-receptacle B to a point near the bottom ot the same and is there carried outwardly through the wall of the receptacle and is connected with a burner-pipe C', which extends outwardly from the receptacle and is then bent upwardly and terminates in a burner c. The water-receptacle B is shown in this instance as, secured to the generating-chamber A by means of a iiange b at the upper margin of thewater-chamber which ts closely against the side wall of the generating-chamber and isn attached thereto by solder` or like means. The bottom wall b of the water-receptacle'is located a short distance below and parallel with the bottom wall of thel generating-chamber and attached to said wall b is a hub b2, through which passes a vertical screwthreaded valve-stem D, having at is upper end the valve-plu g d, which is of conical form and is adapted to iit within and close the opening ct','these parts constituting a valve of the form commonly known as a needlevalve. The valve-stem D is provided at its lower end with a milled head CW, by which it may be turned for Operating the valve.

On the bottom oi the generatingchamber is formed an annular, downwardly-projecting iiange E, which rests upon the bottom of the receptacle B, but is provided with a series of IOG notches c, forming openings through which the water flows in its passage from the waterreceptacle to the generating-chainber. Said flange E is conveniently formed by bending o1' swaging the sheet-metal bottom of the rcceptacle, so as to form a projecting head or ridge on its under surface. In connection with said flange E, the bottom wall of the water-receptacle is shown as provided with a groove or depression if, which receives the lower edge of said flange E and thereby serves to hold the bottom of the generating-chamber centrally within the water-receptacle and to thereby positivelyretani the opening a' accurately in alinement with the valve-stem D.

F indicates a iling-oriiice formed in the upper part of the water-receptacle and provided wit-h a screw-plug F, by which said fillingorifice is kept normally closed. Said screw-plug is shown as made hollow and as provided with a small air-passagef, so arranged that when the screw-plug is turned outwardly air will be free to enter the receptacle through said passage.

In the side of the generating-chain ber near its top is formed a passage g, which is controlled by avalve consisting of a valve-seat g/ and a valve-plug G. Said passage, when the valve is open, serves to establish connection between the upper part of the generating-chamber and the top of the water-receptacle. rlhe purpose of this passage is to admit the 'pressure of the generated gas to the top of the water, so as to enable the water to flow freely through the inlet-opening at the bottom of the generating-chamber by preventing the formation of a vacuum in the closed water-receptacle.

Inthe particular construction illustrated, the valve-plug G is formed on the end of a screw-threaded shaft G and has screw-th readed engagement with a tube which fits within a tubular seat g3, which extends through the wall of the receptacle and is secured to the generating-chamber at its inner end, said tube having the valve-seatg formed near its inner end and having adjacent to said seat a lateral exit g", through which the gas escapes to the water-receptacle when the valve is lturned backwardly away from the seat.

lVithin the generating-chamber A is located a lining or jacket II, the same being shown in exterior view in Fig. i. Said lining or jacket is made of sheet metal and consists of a cylindric wall II and perforated bottom and top walls H2 and H3, the latter being, as herein shown, provided with marginal iianges which lit over or embrace the end margins of the cylindric wall. Said cylindric wall is preferably made imperforate except for an annularly-arranged series of openings h2, extending around the same some distance below its top. As a special feature of construction constituting a separate improvement the said cylindric wall is provided with disconnected edges which are joined merely by means of interlocking slots and tongues 71, 7L', which engage each other in 4such man ner that when the ends or heads Il2 II3 are removed the meeting edges of the side wall may be easily disconnected and spread apart, the purpose of this construction being to permit the convenient removal of the calcium carbid which is placed within said jacket. In this connection it is to be understood that the calcium carbid is commonly found to be packed so closely in the generating-chamber after it has been acted upon by the water as to be removed from such chamber with difficulty, and only by the use of a tool by which it may be dug or scraped out. Obviously by providing a separate jacket within the generating-chamber, and making the same of a cylinder which may be easily opened or cX- panded, a means is provided for easily and quickly releasing and removing the closelypacked calcium carbid. Connected with the bottom wall II.2 of said jacket II is a central perforated tube II", which rises to the top of the jacket and passes through a central hole in the top wall II?. Said perforated tube Il is filled by a mass I of porous material, such as chemists filter-paper, the same in the instance shown being rolled to form a solid cylinder or plug which is inserted in said tube IlA1 and fills the same from top to bottom. In the bottom of the generating-chamber between the bottom wall thereof and the perforated bottom IIL of the jacket is located a layer .I of porous material which may also consist of chemists filter-paper. It is to be understood, however, that the mass I and layer J may be made of any other poro s material having the same general characteristics as filter-paper.

The cover A of thel generating-chamber is shown as provided with a safety-valve K, the same consisting of a tubular plug k, secured in the cover and having a central orifice and a conical valve-scat at its upper end, and a valve-plug 7c', which fits in said seat and is provided with a depending stem k2, around which is placed a coiled spring ki", which is confined between the plug k and a shoulder or cross-pin at the lower end of said stem. The purpose of said safety-valve is to permit the escape of gas in case the same shall accumulate so rapidly as to produce a dangerous pressure. Said cover is shown as provided with an inner lining or layer L of leather, rubber, or like material the margins of which form a packing between the cover and the ring c2. Said cover is also provided with an inner porous lining M, which serves to absorb any moisture which may accumulate on the under side of the cover and thus prevent the same from dripping upon the dry calcium carbid and thereby unduly increasing the amount of gas generated.

The parts above described constitute the generator proper, but I have shown in Fig. l an attaching-arm N as secured to the side wall of the water-receptacle and an annular support or base O as secured to the -bottom ICO IIO

l with a porous mass I.

of the same. I have also shown a reliector P as arranged to surround the burner c, said reflector being inclosed in a cylindric housing P', attached to the side of the water-receptacle and adapted to receive and hold said reflector. The reflector is shown as provided With a chimney p and the housing P as provided with an inclosing cap P2, which surrounds said chimney and is provided with lateral perforations for the escape of products of combustion. In front of the reflector P is located a glass or lens Q, the same being held in a separate holding-ring Q', that is tted Within a marginal flange P3, formed on the outer part of the housing P. The ring Q is shovvn as consisting of outer and inner annular sheet-metal parts q q', the outer part having an internal flange at its inner margin, against Which the glass rests, and the inner part fitting Within the outer part and bearing at its inner margin against the glass, so as to hold or conne the same in place. The ring Q is not made to fit closely Within the flange P3, but the outer annulus. q of said ring is provided With transverse grooves or flutings q2, Fig. 5, located at intervals around the periphery of the ring and forming projecting ribs that separate the ring from the inner surface of the flange P8 and thereby form 'an annular space or opening between the body of the ring andthe fiange P3. Said annular space serves to admit the outer air to the front of the reflector and thereby7 serves to keep the glass cool and afford an additional supply of air to the burner.

In preparing the generator'for operation, the porous'material J is first inserted in the generating-chamber and the jacket H is then filled to the desired extent With calcium carbid, the tube I having been previously packed The perforations N serve merely to indicate the quantity of calcium carbid necessary for a charge, and perform no special function in the operation of the apparatus. The jacket is then inserted Within the generating-chamber through its open upper end and the cover A then secured to the chamber. The receptacle B having been filled with Water, the generator is in condition for operation. The needle-valve at the bottom of the chamber Will preferably be closed before the Water is inserted. Upon opening said valve Water from the receptacle Will immediately begin to pass into the generating-chamber and Will be taken up or absorbed by the mass of porous material and also by the layer J thereof and Will be carried by said porous material into contact with the calcium carbid, which rests against t-he perforated tube I-IL1 and the bottom H2 of the jacket, the Water passing through the perforations of said parts in an obvious manner. As the Water comes into contact With the calcium carbid gas will be generated, and such gas rising through the dry calcium carbid Will accumulate in the top of the generating-chamber and escape from the same to the burner. The porous mass I and layer J have the eect of spreading or distributing the Water by capillary action, so as to bring it into contact with a relatively large area of the calcium carbid at once. At the same time the porous material Will limit or control the vquantity of Water carried to the calcium carbid, so as to afford equality of action in the generation of the gas. The porous mass I not only acts to afford uniform distribution of the Water but also to carry the Water up- Wardly to the material in the upper part of the generating-chamber. At, the beginning of the operation of the generating it is usually desirable to admit a small quant-ity of air to the Water-receptacle by loosening the screwcap f, this being necessary to permit the Water to flow freely to the generating-chamber before theV generation of gas begins. As soon as the device is started, however, the airvalve is closed and the gas-valveGr will be opened and pressure of gas Will be maintained on the Water sufficient to insure its continuous and uniform flow to the generatingchamber and thereby making unnecessary the presence of an air-inlet opening to prevent the formation of a vacuum.

I claim as my inventionl. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a gas-generating chamber provided With a Water-inlet opening in its bottom Wall, a source or means of Water-supply connected with said opening, a perforated tube located in the said chamber above said opening and a mass or filling of porous material Within said tube for conveying the Water by capillary action into contact With the calcium carbid Which surrounds said tube.

2. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a Water-receptacle, a gas-generating chamber provided With a Water-inlet opening in its bottom communicating with the Water-receptacle and provided with a regulating-valve, a gas-delivery pipe leading from the topof the generating-chamber to the burner, and a gaspassage provided With a controlling-valve connecting the top of the generating-chamber with the top of the Water-receptacle, said Water-receptacle being closed to the external air andhaving no opening except those connecting it with the bottom and top of the generating-chamber.

3. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a gas-generating chamber having a Water-inlet opening in its bottom, a source of Water-supply connected With said opening and a perforated tube,lo`cated i'nthe chamber and forming an annular space for calcium carbid between the same and the Wall of the chamber, said tube being provided With a filling of porousmaterial by vWhich Water is conveyed from the inlet-opening to the calcium carbid in contact With said perforated tube.

4. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a generating-chamber having a Water-inlet opening in its bottom, a source of Water-supply connected With said opening, and a cylin- IOO IIO

drie jacket adapted for insertion Within said chamber, said jacket comprising a eylindric Wall which is separable or open at its side to permit the removal of spent carbid of calcium therefrom.

5. An acetylene-gas generator eomprisinga gas-generating chamber having a Water-inlet opening in its bottom, a source of Water-supply connected with said opening and a jacket adapted for insertion Within the chamber said j aeket comprising a eylindrio side Wall which is separable or open at its side, and flanged bottom and top walls, adapted to hold the Side Wall in cylindric form.

G. An acetylene-gas generator eomprisinga gas-generating chamber having a water-inlet opening in its bottom, a source of Water-supply connected with said openin and a j aeket adapted for insertion in said chamber, said jacket consisting of a eylindric side wall, and perforated bottom and top walls.

7. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a gas-generating chamber having a Water-inlet opening in its bottom, a source of Water-supply connected With said opening, and a jacket adapted for insertion in said chamber, said jacket consisting of a eylindric side Wall, a porforated bottom wall and a central perforated tube rising from the bottom Wall.

S. An aeetylene-gasgeneratorcomprisinga gas-generatin g chamber having a Water-inlet opening in its bottom, a source of Water-supply connected with said opening, and a jacket adapted for insertion in said chamber, said jacket consisting of a cylindrie side Wall, a perforated bottom Wall, a top wall, and a central perforated tube extending between the bottom and top walls.

9. An acetylene-gas generator comprisinga gas-generating chamber having a Water-inlet opening in its bottom, a source of water-supply connected with said opening, and a jacket adapted for insertion in said chamber, said jacket consisting 0f a eylindrie side Wall, a perforated bottom Wall, a top Wall and a eentral perforated tube extending between the bottom and top Walls, said side wall being separable at one side and the bottom and top walls bein g iianged to engage the ends thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aiiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 9th day of December, A. D. 1896.

JOHN C. DUPEE. 

